Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 4: 4/18

の様(よう)に

Like (Noun), Similar to (Noun)

This is a version using nouns, みたい(に・な)→appearance of, のよう(に・な)→in the manner of

Structure

Noun + のように + Verb(1)
Noun + のような + Noun

(1) Adverb、［い］Adjective、［な］Adjective

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About のように・のような

The auxiliary verb ようだ is used for making observations. It states that something is 'in the manner/way of (A)'. Like the auxiliary verb そうだ, ようだ may be used in a similar way to な-Adjectives (can be followed by な when acting as an adjective, or に when acting as an adverb). の is required before these constructions when it is describing a noun.
  • ナオミはプロの歌手(かしゅ)のように歌(うた) う。
    Naomi sings like a professional singer.
  • この先生(せんせい)は鬼(おに)のように怖(こわ)い。
    This teacher is as scary as a demon. (Literally, 'scary like a demon')
  • 私(わたし)は鳥(とり)のように自由(じゆう)だ。
    I am free as a bird. (Literally, 'free like a bird')
  • 最近(さいきん)はタブレットのようなスマホが売(う)られています。
    Recently, tablet-like smartphones are being sold.
Because よう (coming from the kanji 様(よう)) usually expresses the 'manner' in which something is existing/happening, it is regularly used when the speaker has direct personal experience from which they are drawing a comparison. This means that よう will sound far more confident than みたい, or そう.
Fun Fact
When ようだ is describing another word (in its ような, or ように form), this is known as 'presenting an example' (例示(れいじ) in Japanese), and means that '(A) is an example of (B)'.

Examples

  • お箸(はし)はこのように使(つか)います。

    Chopsticks are used like this.

  • 今(いま)はスマートフォンのような携帯(けいたい)がたくさんあります。

    Currently, there are many smartphone-like cell phones.

  • 彼(かれ)はコーヒーを水(みず)のように飲(の)む。

    He drinks coffee like it's water.

  • スープのようなカレー。

    Soup-like curry.

  • ハムスターのように口(くち)に食(た)べ物(もの)を入(い)れた。

    I stuffed food in my mouth similar to a hamster.

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のように・のような – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (13 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 3 years ago

    @thirdtimesthecharm
    Hey

    そういう doesn’t fit here because it is so-called prenoun-adjective, in other words, it can be only used before nouns to modify them. So, if verbs or adjectives follow - そういう cannot be used.

    In this case we have verb 使います that follows the input field, so そういう cannot be used.

    I hope it helps,
    Cheers!

  • Baves

    Baves

    About 2 years ago

    Hey there

    ハムスターの ように 口に食べ物を入れた

    Why exactly do we use the に-particle in this case, when 口 is a noun. I’d use な instead.

  • gyroninja

    gyroninja

    About 2 years ago

    ハムスターの ように 口に食べ物を入れた

    I stuffed food in my mouth similar to a hamster.

    ハムスターの ような 口に食べ物を入れた

    I stuffed food in my hamster like mouth

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